Zhu Plays Red Rocks for the Last Month of the Season

Opening for his "Grace" tour, the artist welcomed Channel Tres, Claptone, Hayden James, and Noizu. All four artists did not accompany him at every location, though they were slated on the lineup. In honor of Zhu's new album "Grace" that's set to release on January 19th of 2024, he brought his captivating set to the infamous venue. The album that he recorded at Grace Cathedral in his hometown of San Francisco was played in front of fans that filled the stands for what would be one of his last Red Rocks shows for years to come - eleven to be exact, as stated by the artist on Instagram via a story the day of his Red Rocks set.

The set consisted of a box like structure sitting center stage atop a small set of stairs and six lighting structures behind and to the side of the cube, three on the right and three on the left. As fans waited for Zhu to take the stage, the front of the structure read, "On May 23 2023, Steven Zhu started to record his fourth studio album in Grace Cathedral, San Francisco. He went back to his hometown to find inspiration for his next mission. He wanted to share some of these moments with you tonight." - giving background on the album and what the artist had in store for the nights performance.

As the music for intermission came to a fade, one person started to walk out onto the stage and took place in front of the large structure - wearing a long black cloak with red letters on the back representing the album they were there to preview. Before stepping onto the stairs, the figure knelt down as if they were praying and as they got up traced a cross over his body, representing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three other people dressed the same followed them before Steven himself was the last to come out, following the same motions before placing himself in the center of those that came before him. The five of them stood there for a moment, backs faced to the crowd before all but Zhu departed the steps and moved into the cube, leaving Steven alone on the platform with his back still turned to the audience. Once the four took their place inside the cube, ready to perform on various instruments that they'd each play throughout the set Zhu began to sing as he eventually turned around. A large spotlight illuminated him as he sarendated his fans, quickly captivating the crowd.

After performing "Take My Soul", one of his tracks off the new album - he made his way up to the top of the cube taking his place at where he would be for the vast majority of the set. Throughout the show the cube would change colors, show various visuals and occasionally feature his fellow musicians all while the lighting structures that sat behind and to the sides lit up according to the tone of the songs and instrumental features.

The artist played for an hour and a half before wrapping up the show for the night and thanking his fans for their support. It wouldn't have been a true Zhu set without playing "Faded", one of the tracks that he's best known for - and as an encore. The crowd hollered as he departed the stage, leaving fans anticipating the album more than they had before the set began.